Pub’s fundraiser for Peter

Tanya Scoon

A Kirkcaldy community is rallying round to help one of its own after he was left disabled following a spinal cord stroke.

Peter Johnston (59), of 75 Hayfield Road was left in a serious condition after he suffered two heart attacks.

One morning in April he woke up unable to move his left leg properly and with a pain in his back.

His wife Connie (47) took him to hospital around 10.00 a.m. when he was examined and sent home. He was told by medics that if his symptoms got worse he should go back.

That same night he became very ill and was rushed back via ambulance.

Further extensive tests revealed that he had suffered a spinal cord stroke/injury and he was in and out of five different hospitals over the next 11 months.

Peter, a former taxi driver and joiner has only been allowed home for around six weeks in almost a year.

The stroke means that he has been left paralysed in the lower half of his body and needs a wheelchair to move around.

Now, Peter is being repaid for the generosity he has shown members of his community over the years, through odd jobs and helping families in need.

Staff at Gallaghers - where he used to drink on a Sunday with Connie and their friends, including daughters Kirsten (22), Lyndsey McArthur (26) and Tara Cruden (39) - are organising a big fundraiser to raise money to buy a purpose-built electric wheelchair for Peter who struggles to push himself for long distances in his manual one.

The pub will host a charity funday on Saturday, April 4.

Peter’s daughter Kirsten said: “This last year has been absolutely awful and a very difficult time for the family. None of us drive, so we have been relying on relatives or buses to get us to the hospitals so we could visit my dad.

“He has been in hospital in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Windygates, as well as Kirkcaldy, so it has been a very stressful time. We are all really glad to finally have him back home with us.

“Hopefully if we can get dad an electric wheelchair, it will make his life easier as he will be able to get out and about more. We are very grateful to Gallaghers for organising this.

“An electric wheelchair costs about £3-4000, so the family is planning another fundraising event later on in the year.”

Fundraiser for Peter Johnston

The fundraiser takes place on Saturday, April 4.

There will be a children’s fun session from 2.00-5.00 p.m. with party food, bouncy castle, face painting, fun competitions and games, cake and candy etc. Entry is free, with a small charge for activities.

A karaoke disco for adults starts at 6.00 p.m. til late, with a raffle to win a special hamper. Entry for this is £1 on the door.